HEAVY TRAFFIC: Driving Continues to Rise, Undermining Literally Every Effort to Make the City Better – Streetsblog NYC

Report on Vehicle Miles Traveled in New York City and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

A recent analysis by Open Plans, titled “Hit the Brakes: Understanding and Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled in NYC,” indicates a significant increase in vehicular traffic within New York City. This trend presents a direct challenge to the city’s progress towards several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning urban sustainability, public health, and climate action. The report highlights an urgent need for policy intervention to reverse the growth in driving and align the city’s transportation strategy with global sustainability targets.

Key Findings on Increased Vehicular Traffic

VMT and Car Ownership Trends

The data reveals a substantial disconnect between population growth and vehicle usage, undermining efforts to create a sustainable urban environment.

• Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMTs) increased by 16% between 2005 and 2023, while the city’s population grew by only 1.4%.
• In 2023, over 24 billion miles were driven within the five boroughs.
• Private vehicles are the primary source of this traffic, accounting for 80% of all VMTs.
• Per capita driving has risen sharply, with the average car owner driving 22% more miles between 2019 and 2023.
• Car ownership has increased by 10% since 2010.
• For-hire vehicles constitute only 9% of total VMTs, a share that has remained consistent since 2005.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The rise in VMTs directly contravenes SDG Target 11.2, which calls for safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all. The increase in private car use degrades urban quality of life by:

• Increasing traffic congestion, which slows public transportation. NYC’s buses are the slowest in the nation, disproportionately affecting residents who rely on them.
• Undermining road safety initiatives. In 2024, traffic crashes resulted in 253 fatalities and 53,999 injuries.
• Reducing social cohesion, as research indicates residents on streets with heavy traffic have fewer local social connections.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The over-reliance on private vehicles has severe consequences for public health, conflicting with SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being.

• Air Pollution: The transportation sector is a primary source of greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollutants, contributing to respiratory illnesses and other health conditions.
• Noise Pollution: Vehicular traffic is a major source of urban noise pollution. The report notes that after the implementation of congestion pricing, noise complaints to the city’s 311 system dropped by 45%.
• Physical Inactivity: Car-dependent infrastructure discourages active transport like walking and cycling. The percentage of children walking to school has fallen from 40% in 1969 to 11% today.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The increase in driving directly threatens the city’s ability to meet its climate targets, as outlined in SDG 13. With the transportation sector being the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, the double-digit percentage increase in VMTs makes achieving the city’s goal of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 increasingly difficult.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Current transportation patterns exacerbate economic and social inequalities, running counter to the principles of SDG 10. The report finds that car ownership can consume up to 30% of the budget for low-income families. Providing viable, non-car alternatives could save households an average of $1,000 per month.

Policy Recommendations for VMT Reduction and SDG Attainment

The report concludes that behavioral change requires decisive policy action. A three-pronged strategy is proposed to reduce VMTs and advance the city’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Strategic Framework for Action

1. Bolster Sustainable Alternatives: Enhance the appeal and efficiency of non-car transportation modes to support SDG 11. This includes reallocating road space from private vehicles to create dedicated bus lanes, building out the network of protected bike lanes, and improving pedestrian infrastructure.
2. Change the Incentives: Implement policies that directly discourage private car use. This involves expanding congestion pricing, pedestrianizing commercial districts, and creating low-traffic neighborhoods to reclaim public space for community use and improve air quality, thereby advancing SDG 3 and SDG 13.
3. Reform Car-Friendly Policies: Systematically dismantle policies that promote car ownership and use. Key actions include eliminating parking minimums in new developments, halting highway expansion projects, and managing the supply of free on-street parking to reflect its true social and environmental cost.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

The article on New York City’s increasing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) highlights issues that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals. These goals focus on creating a sustainable, equitable, and healthy urban environment.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article emphasizes the negative health impacts of increased driving, including road safety and pollution. The “Vision Zero street safety initiatives” are undermined by rising VMT, leading to more fatalities and injuries. The text explicitly states, “more driving means more fatalities,” and mentions the effects of air and noise pollution on residents’ well-being.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• This is the most central SDG to the article. The entire piece is about the challenge of making New York City more sustainable and livable. It discusses the failure to “promote more sustainable modes of transportation,” the inefficiency of public transit (buses being the “slowest in the nation”), and the negative impact of car traffic on the quality of life and social connections in neighborhoods. The proposed solutions, such as building bike lanes, improving bus rapid transit, and pedestrianizing streets, are core strategies for achieving sustainable urban development.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article directly links the increase in driving to climate change. It states that “The transportation sector represents the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions” and that the rise in VMT works against the city’s goal of “reducing climate-affecting gasses by 80 percent by 2050.” The call to reduce car use is framed as a necessary climate action.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified as directly relevant to the article’s content.

1. Target 3.6: By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.

   Although the 2020 deadline has passed, the objective remains critical. The article’s focus on the failure of “Vision Zero street safety initiatives” and its citation of specific casualty numbers (“In 2024, 253 people were killed on the streets of New York in crashes. Another 53,999 were injured”) directly aligns with this target’s goal of improving road safety.

2. Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.

   The article’s central theme is the over-reliance on private vehicles and the need for better alternatives. It critiques the current transportation system by highlighting that buses are the “slowest in the nation” and calls for “safer alternatives to driving,” such as building more bike infrastructure and boosting transit. This directly addresses the need for a more sustainable and accessible transport system.

3. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.

   The report’s concern with “pollution reduction efforts” and the statement that “more driving means more air pollution” connect directly to this target. The example of Paris, where reducing car use “literally cleaned the air,” reinforces the link between reducing VMT and improving urban environmental quality.

4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   The article advocates for specific policy changes to combat climate change at the city level. It criticizes the rise in VMT for hindering the city’s goal to reduce greenhouse gases and promotes policy interventions like congestion pricing, changing car-friendly zoning laws, and reallocating road space as essential climate strategies.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to track progress towards the identified targets.

• Number of road traffic deaths and injuries: The article provides precise figures for 2024: “253 people were killed” and “53,999 were injured.” This serves as a direct indicator for Target 3.6.
• Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): This is the primary metric used throughout the article. The data point “VMTs have risen by 16 percent between 2005 and 2023” is a key indicator of the failure to create a sustainable transport system (Target 11.2) and its negative impact on climate goals (Target 13.2).
• Car ownership rate: The article notes that “Car ownership is up 10 percent since 2010.” Tracking this rate is an indicator of dependence on private vehicles and the success of policies promoting alternatives.
• Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation: The article identifies the transportation sector as the “biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions” and mentions the city’s reduction goal (“80 percent by 2050”), making emissions levels a crucial indicator for Target 13.2.
• Noise complaints: A specific indicator for the environmental impact of traffic is provided: “noise complaints to the city’s 311 system dropped by 45 percent” after congestion pricing began. This measures progress towards Target 11.6.
• Public transit performance: The description of NYC buses as the “slowest in the nation” implies that bus speed and reliability are key performance indicators for the accessibility and effectiveness of sustainable transport options (Target 11.2).

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nyc.streetsblog.org